Eptopic beats and flecainide.

[Pepsicoke]

Hi, I've been on flecainide 50 twice a day for a few weeks now and I am still experiencing some eptopic beats and the odd fluttering, I know it's probably not going to stop all but I guess I'm just paranoid it's not working. Maybe I'm just expecting to much, kind of wanted it all to stop. Any one else still experiencing small amounts of eptopics and on flecainide, i guess I'm trying to reassure myself it's totally normal.

[secondtry]

50mgs x2 is entry level. I started on that but still got AF twice a week so asked to be put on 100mgs x2 (medium dose as 300mgs is max) and that stopped it for 10 yrs.

[Ppiman]

I have been given the same but I haven't started it as I was worried about side effects and my symptoms are currently bearable.

I don't think flecainide (or any drug) is able to stop ectopic beats completely, even if it can in some, hold back AF. The drug itself is also capable of inducing its own arrhythmias, so it might be worth asking your GP.

Steve

[Pommerania78]

Not only should you consider a higher dose, but give it more time. I take Flecainide, 100 mg twice a day, and it took several months for it to really start having an effect. Also consider a beta blocker. I take Metoprol 50 mg. once a day. Use the time between now and when the medicine starts really working to do what YOU can do: lose weight, radically reform your diet, and envision and talk about how your body is getting better, regardless of how you feel.

[Pepsicoke in reply to Pommerania78]

I am on bisaprolol 2.5 but unfortunately I can't tell the ask doc for higher dose as tbh seeing him is like seeing Santa and they don't seem that bothered about it. I can't afford to go private so to get a higher dose I'll probably haver to end up in afib in a and e to get seen again.

[Pommerania78 in reply to Pepsicoke]

Don't quit trying. I understand your depressed feelings. I had them at the beginning as well. Just realize that you can make things much better with effort. And while you're getting the medicine sorted out, work on your diet and weight, etc. There is a good book you should read called "The Afib Cure". I can't remember the author, but last year I read it several times, and it will give you hope and lots of ideas. The most important thing that I did was to quit any form of gluten immediately. I lost 79 pounds and about 30 percent of my original body weight and I have not had any sort of arrythmia in seven months to my knowledge. Someone else you should study are the teachings of Dr. Joel Wallach. Old broadcasts of his radio program are on YouTube. Obviously see what he says about Afib. In brief, Wallach believes that Afib is caused by spinal problems as the discs degenerate and squeeze the Vagus Nerve. (This is why you don't see many 18 year olds with Afib!) This can be cured or at the least much improved. I have learned that really all good health is up to us. Ask me anything you like.

[whiststev]

I’m surprised you’ve been prescribed flacanaid for ectopicics , it’s usually a beta blocker which I was prescribed 10 years ago,Bisoprolol also for AF which wasn’t much help, it just slows your heart rate down which it’s designed to do.What did reduce mine by 90% was the calcium channel blocker named Amlodapine .

[Pepsicoke in reply to whiststev]

It was prescribed for afib but I have eptopics also. Although my afib episodes are usually only seconds long I went in to hospital with afib that lasted 4 or so hours so I guess that's why I'm prescribed it.

[DennisVA]

50mg worked good for awhile, but it wasn't enough to knock out the Ectopics/PAC's so my EP upped to 100mg (normal dose). I rarely have any now...

[sdweller]

Yes I get ectopics, been on Flec for 5 years. My EP at Cleveland Clinic has told me that one of t he main culprits for ectopics is low potassium, this has made a huge difference for me. Low sodium V8 juice and/or coconut water are both big sources of potassium, and what a difference that has made for me. Something you might want to try, I drink one of these every day and it definitely reduces my ectopics.